Train provider Northern Rail has revealed that across Greater manchester there were 10,046 occasions where passengers were caught travelling on their services without a valid ticket last year, and 339 of them were in Bolton.

The most fare dodgers, 876, were caught on journeys starting in Rochdale followed by Guide Bridge with 635 and Ashton under Lyne 622.

Northern Rail has now launched a campaign to crack down on fare dodgers across Greater Manchester, with the production of videos and posters highlighting the issue.

Alex Hynes, managing director of Northern Rail said: “We know from talking to our customers they have a real problem when they see others not paying for their journey. We don’t want to see passengers get into trouble and want to make sure they understand the implications of taking a free ride.

“It’s the passenger’s responsibility to buy a ticket, so they must seek out the conductor to get one or if that is not possible, then buy a ticket at their destination station.”

Comments (1)

Let people buy open returns then like you can online! Northern Rail refusing to sell these types of tickets, in effect making people pay twice if they stay out in Manchester overnight (or think they will) encourages fair evasion!

Let people buy open returns then like you can online! Northern Rail refusing to sell these types of tickets, in effect making people pay twice if they stay out in Manchester overnight (or think they will) encourages fair evasion!Steven Chadwick